Do you take your LO through public transit to get to daycare?

[Halfasianmomma]

Just wondering if any working mamas have to take their LOs with them by way of public transit to get to daycare. I've got an appointment with two private daycares downtown, and I'm trying to figure out the logistics of taking DD in the bus/subway at the age of 10 months, drop her off at daycare and THEN go to work...and then at the end of my day, reverse the trip. Am I crazy?

Stroller?
Carrier? (DD is 23 lbs!)

Any input would be appreciated...

[kalirush]

Carrier, if you can do it. I used a wrap with my daughter until she was 2-1/2. It's the best on mass transit- your hands are free, and the kid isn't trying to wander. If you do a stroller, I would use an umbrella stroller that quickly folds up.

[mammastar2]

Consider the state of your transit system during the hours you'd be travelling. Would it be rush hour? Do you get on early enough to stake out some space? If not, how does your daughter deal with crowds?

I see some kids and babies on transit who are totally chill in a crowd, but until mine was at least 4 or 5, if it was crowded she'd be soooo miserable, with all of the jostling. She'd just panic.

We did some commuting for a while, but now dd is cared for in the neighbourhood. It just wasn't worth the stress and jostling and the early start and late finish for us to continue. Do you have options near home?

[lolar2]

I take him in an Ergo.

[calpurnia]

find care either close to your work or close to your home so you are not criss crossing town all morning/evening.

[Rosehip]

Tons of parents commute with kids here. I'd say the biggest factor for me would be whether the daycares were convenient to, and not in the opposite direction, of my work.

Umbrella stroller or carrier. I bet that after a short period of adjustment, you'll get your groove, and it will be a relatively nice time. My kids LOVE trains.

[AndrewsMother]

I did it, I hated the experience and I will NEVER torture myself in a similar fashion again.

As other children near my DS age sat quietly in the seat or in their parents lap mine fought to escape my grasp.

The bus was too crowded for the Ergo, and I was too tired to stand anyway. DS liked to pull on or touch the hair and clothing of people standing nearby. Strollers are not allowed on the bus unless they are folded, so the stroller was mostly in the way.

I am sure that my experience is one in a million, I thought that we would enjoy our commute, but the ride was always stressful.

[Momily]

I did it for years and loved it most of the time. Having him in my arms, or in the stroller facing me on the subway, while I talked to him or read him a book, rather behind me strapped in a carseat, was great.

A carrier wasn't an option for us, DS needed a bunch of medical equipment and I really needed the stroller as a way to keep it all together, but even if we hadn't had that issue I think I would have still done a stroller, to keep him from getting bumped/brushed up against constantly. That doesn't mean that I wouldn't take him out and hold him or let him walk when he was older while pushing with one hand.

[lolar2]

Originally Posted by AndrewsMother

I did it, I hated the experience and I will NEVER torture myself in a similar fashion again.

As other children near my DS age sat quietly in the seat or in their parents lap mine fought to escape my grasp.

The bus was too crowded for the Ergo, and I was too tired to stand anyway. DS liked to pull on or touch the hair and clothing of people standing nearby. Strollers are not allowed on the bus unless they are folded, so the stroller was mostly in the way.

I am sure that my experience is one in a million, I thought that we would enjoy our commute, but the ride was always stressful.

Interesting, where are you? Around here people don't mind being touched by a baby or toddler on public transportation. It's accepted as inevitable.

I sit on the bus with DS in the Ergo on my back. As long as I sit on the edge of the seat it's not a problem.

[shayinme]

I did with my now 17 yo son, he started daycare at 8-9 months and I had no car or license so I used public transit. Its one of those situations where if you have no options IMO you get used to it. I didn't have any carriers back then so I used a stroller until he was walking ok, if I were you I would use a Ergo.

[AndrewsMother]

Originally Posted by lolar2

Interesting, where are you? Around here people don't mind being touched by a baby or toddler on public transportation. It's accepted as inevitable.

I sit on the bus with DS in the Ergo on my back. As long as I sit on the edge of the seat it's not a problem.

I love in Houston, home of the worst public transportation system in America. Maybe the world. Some people, most did not mind but there are a few who do. Most people laughed and played with him, but other would say something that would let me know that they did not want my two year old wrapping his fingers in their hair or trying to pull brightly colored packages from their bags.

I also failed to mention in the first post that he would scream, moan and wail most of the trip. DS does not allow me to sit in the Ergo, not even on the edge of the seat for more than a few minutes. He kicks, twists and whines in my ear. No Mommie.

A 20/30 minute car trip became a 1 1/2 hour ordeal. Maybe I should say I would not commute to work via public transportation with a baby/toddler in Houston. I did Atlanta before we moved and the experience was different. Pleasant even. Riding the train is easier than riding a bus, except for in Houston where the light rail train cars are about as wide as an Escalade. Seriously. Normal rail cars like those in most cities are easy to maneuver. I was drained at the end of the day and irritable, so after about 2 months I had enough so I purchased another car.

So, to the OP, if you live in a city with decent, modern public transportation system that accommodates and welcomes commuters your trip could be pleasant.

[AndrewsMother]

Originally Posted by lolar2

Interesting, where are you? Around here people don't mind being touched by a baby or toddler on public transportation. It's accepted as inevitable.

I sit on the bus with DS in the Ergo on my back. As long as I sit on the edge of the seat it's not a problem.

I love in Houston, home of the worst public transportation system in America. Maybe the world. Some people, most did not mind but there are a few who do. Most people laughed and played with him, but other would say something that would let me know that they did not want my two year old wrapping his fingers in their hair or trying to pull brightly colored packages from their bags.

I also failed to mention in the first post that he would scream, moan and wail most of the trip.

A 20/30 minute car trip became a 1 1/2 hour ordeal. Maybe I should say I would not commute to work via public transportation with a baby/toddler in Houston. I did Atlanta before we moved and the experience was different. Pleasant even. Riding the train is easier than riding a bus, except for in Houston where the light rail train cars are about as wide as an Escalade. Seriously. Normal rail cars like those in most cities are easy to maneuver.

So, to the OP, if you live in a city with decent, modern public transportation system that accommodates and welcomes commuters your trip could be pleasant.

[lolar2]

Oh, I used to live in Houston. I would seriously consider camping out on the street in a cardboard box next to my workplace, rather than use the Houston bus system to commute to work. Even WITHOUT a child. The only places I've ever been with worse public transportation systems, were places that had none at all.

[dido1]

I've commuted with DS via bus everyday since he was 2. I'm lucky in that he is a great transit rider. Mostly calm, yada yada. I have never, ever taken a stroller on the bus. I either wore him or we just walked together. Our commute together is really nice time for the two of to catch up, cuddle, reconnect, etc.

Our transit system allows strollers, but they are deeply resented by other passengers and I have to say that even as a mother I really resent people bringing their monster strollers on the bus during rush hour. They displace up to four other people. Please, please use an umbrella stroller and fold it up when you get on the bus. Your fellow commuters will thank you.

[PiePie]

every day, via ergo. i don't think you are at all crazy. for me, the quality of the daycare trumps. i would not say it is relaxing for me, but i do get to nurse, read to her, sing to her, etc. much cozier than if i were commuting by car, and more time with her than if i had a nanny in my home.